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ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and Alabama signed contracts cementing their two-year home-and-home series to to complete the Wildcats' 2017-18 nonconference schedule.

UA wound up with half of its nonconference games (other than those in the competitive Battle 4 Atlantis field) against teams who posted RPIs between 59-121 last season, though its highest-rated opponent is Cal State Bakersfield in a "guarantee" game. 

The Roadrunners were also invited to McKale last season, . Guarantee opponents such as Bakersfield are paid flat fees, usually between $85,000-$95,000, instead of getting the Wildcats to return the game at their home.

The one-time "guarantee" games are against NAU, UMBC (technically part of the Atlantis event), Bakersfield, LBSU, and North Dakota State.

Also in 2018-19, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will open a home-and-home series with Baylor at McKale Center.

The Wildcats will also play in the 2018 Maui Invitational, as part of a loaded field that includes Duke, Xavier, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Auburn, Illinois and Iowa State.

Alabama will likely be the biggest name nonconference opponent ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will play at McKale. The two-year home-and-home series the Tide signed with the Wildcats was mostly negotiated between UA coach Sean Miller and Alabama AD Greg Byrne, though Reynolds said Alabama coach Avery Johnson was also interested.

If UNLV (RPI of 239 last season) and Long Beach State (213) are better next season, only NAU (335) could seriously drag the Wildcats down, though that game is played for obvious noncompetitive reasons that include the fact that Lumberjacks coach Jack Murphy is a former UA staffer.

Here is ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s 2017-18 schedule:

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýOct. 20, 7 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýMcKale Center

°Õ³Õ:ÌýPac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Notable: The Red-Blue Game serves as the unofficial start to the season. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýNov. 1, 7 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýMcKale Center

°Õ³Õ:ÌýPac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Last time:ÌýThe two teams last met in 1961. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won. 

Series history:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is 1-0 against Eastern New Mexico. 

Fast fact:ÌýThe Greyhounds posted a 13-15 record overall last season. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýNov. 5, 4 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýMcKale Center

°Õ³Õ:ÌýPac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ hosted Chico State on Nov. 6 last year for an exhibition game. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won 78-70. 

Fast fact:ÌýChico State finished last season with a 26-8 record overall. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýNov. 10, 7 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: Pac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ last met the Lumberjacks on Dec. 16, 2015 at McKale Center. The Wildcats rolled to a 92-37 win. Mark Tollefsen led the way with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Ryan Anderson contributed a double-double (18 points, 12 rebounds). 

Series history:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is 97-27 all-time against NAU. 

Fast fact:ÌýNAU posted a 9-23 record overall last season. 

When: Nov. 12, 4 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: Pac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Series history:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has never played UMBC. 

Fast fact:ÌýUMCB finished with a 21-13 record overall last season. 

When: Nov. 16, 8 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: Pac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ beat CSU Bakersfield 78-66 last season on Nov. 15 at McKale Center. UA's freshman trio combined for 54 points: Lauri Markkanen (26), Rawle Alkins (15), Kobi Simmons (13). 

Series history:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is 2-0 all-time against CSU Bakersfield. 

Fast fact:ÌýCSU Bakersfield posted a 25-10 record overall last season (12-2 WAC). The Roadrunners lost in the semifinals of the NIT postseason tournament. 

When: Nov. 22, 5 p.m.

Where: Imperial Island, Bahamas

°Õ³Õ:ÌýTBD

Notable:  The Battle 4 Atlantis is an eight-team tournament on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will face N.C. State in the first round, and with a win would face Southern Methodist or Northern Iowa. Both Villanova and Purdue loom as possible championship game opponents should the Wildcats make it that far.

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýNov. 23, Time TBA

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýImperial Island, Bahamas

TV:  TBA

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýNov. 29, 6 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýMcKale Center

°Õ³Õ:ÌýPac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ took down Long Beach State 85-70 on Dec. 22, 2015. Allonzo Trier led the Wildcats in scoring with 20 points (5-9 FGs, 3-5 3PT). Ryan Anderson posted a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. 

Series history:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is 6-0 all-time against the 49ers. 

Fast fact:ÌýLong Beach State finished with a 15-19 record overall last season.  

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýDec. 2, 8 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýThomas & Mack Arena, Las Vegas

°Õ³Õ:ÌýCBS Sports Network

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ beat UNLV 82-70 on Dec. 19, 2015 at McKale Center. All five Wildcats starters scored in double figures: Dusan Ristic (20), Ryan Anderson (17), Kadeem Allen (15), Allonzo Trier (15), Gabe York (11). 

Series history:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is 8-12 all-time against UNLV. 

Fast fact:ÌýUNLV is the final installment of a four-year series that started between Sean Miller and then-UNLV coach Dave Rice. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýDec. 5, 7 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýTalking Stick Arena, Phoenix

°Õ³Õ:ÌýESPN2

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ edged Texas A&M 67-63 on Dec. 17, 2016 on a neutral court in Houston. Dusan Ristic (18 points) and Lauri Markkanen (17 points) led the way for the Wildcats.  

Series history:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is 7-1 all-time against Texas A&M. 

Fast fact:ÌýTexas A&M is the final game in a semi-neutral series that put the teams in Houston last season. 

When:ÌýDec. 9, 8 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýMcKale Center

°Õ³Õ:Ìý·¡³§±Ê±·2Ìý

Last time:ÌýAlabama beat ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 77-55 on March 18, 1990 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

Series history:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is 0-2 all-time against Alabama. 

Fast fact:ÌýAlabama will host a second game with UA on Dec. 9, 2018. 

When: Dec. 16, 6 p.m.

Where: The Pit, Albuquerque

TV: CBS Sports Network

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ rolled past New Mexico 77-46 last season at McKale Center. Chance Comanche posted 14 points and didn't miss a shot (6-6 FGs). He also grabbed eight rebounds. 

Series history:ÌýThe Wildcats are 84-42 all-time against the Lobos. 

Fast fact:ÌýNew Mexico is the final game of a two-year series that began at McKale last season. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýDec. 18, 7 p.m.

Where: McKale Center 

TV: Pac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Series history:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has never played North Dakota State. 

Fast fact:ÌýThe Bison posted a 19-11 record overall last season. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýDec. 21, 7 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

°Õ³Õ:ÌýESPN2

Last time:ÌýThe Wildcats fell to UConn 65-63 in the Elite Eight of the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Derrick Williams posted 20 points and five rebounds. 

Series history:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has never beat the Huskies. The Wildcats are 0-5 all-time against UConn. 

Fast fact:ÌýUConn is the first game in a two-year series that will continue next season at Storrs, Conn.

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats fans who prefer regular tipoff times and traditional Thursday-Saturday Pac-12 weekends will enjoy UA's 2017-18 schedule.

Even after the TV networks divvied up the Pac-12 games and released their schedule Wednesday, the Wildcats were left with:

• No games after 8:30 p.m. (even after translating from Pacific time in some cases).

• 10 games at 7 p.m.

• Five day games (starting at 4 p.m. or earlier)

• No Sunday Pac-12 games

• No Wednesday Pac-12 home games

• Only two “extra day� Pac-12 weekends – the Bay Area trip (Jan. 17-20) and the Washington trip (Jan. 31-Feb. 3).

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýDec. 30, 7 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýMcKale Center

°Õ³Õ:ÌýPac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ beat ASU 91-75 at McKale Center last season. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýJan. 4, 7 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýHuntsman Center, Salt Lake City

°Õ³Õ:ÌýESPN/ESPN2

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ did not play at Utah last season. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýJan. 6, noon

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýCoors Events Center; Boulder, Colorado

°Õ³Õ:ÌýPac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ did not play at Colorado last year.

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýJan. 11, 7 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýMcKale Center

°Õ³Õ:ÌýPac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ did not host Oregon State last season. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýJan. 13, noon 

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýMcKale Center

°Õ³Õ:ÌýESPN/ESPN2

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ did not host Oregon last year. The Wildcats lost at Oregon, but beat the Ducks in the Pac-12 tournament.

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýJan. 17, 7 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýHaas Pavilion; Berkeley, California

°Õ³Õ:ÌýPac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ beat Cal 67-62 when the teams met last year in Berkeley.

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýJan. 20, 2 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýMaples Pavilion; Palo Alto, California

TV: Ch. 13

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ beat Stanford 91-52 when the teams met last year in California.

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýJan. 25, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Pac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

TV: Fox Sports 1

Opponents:ÌýColorado and Utah 

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ beat Colorado 82-73 last season at McKale Center. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýJan. 27, 3:30 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýMcKale Center

°Õ³Õ:ÌýFox Sports 1

Last time:ÌýThe Wildcats beat Utah 66-56 at McKale Center. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýJan. 31, 8 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýBeasley Coliseum; Pullman, Washington

TV: 8 p.m. 

Last time:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ beat the Cougars 76-68 last season in Pullman. 

When:ÌýFeb. 3, 8:30 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýAlaska Airlines Arena; Seattle, Washington

°Õ³Õ:ÌýPac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥Â 

Last time: The Wildcats beat the Huskies 76-68 in Seattle. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýFeb. 8, 8 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýMcKale Center

°Õ³Õ:ÌýESPN

Last time: UCLA beat the UA 77-72 last season in McKale Center.

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýFeb. 10, 8:15 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýMcKale Center

°Õ³Õ:ÌýESPN/ESPN2

Last time:ÌýThe Wildcats beat USC 90-77 last year in McKale Center. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýFeb. 15, 7 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýWells Fargo Arena, Tempe

°Õ³Õ:ÌýESPN/ESPN2

Last time:ÌýThe Wildcats beat the Sun Devils 73-60 in Tempe last season. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýFeb. 22, 7 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýGill Coliseum; Corvallis, Oregon

TV: Fox Sports 1

Last time:ÌýThe Wildcats beat the Beavers 71-54 in Corvallis last season.

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýFeb. 24, time TBA

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýMatthew Knight Arena; Eugene, Oregon

°Õ³Õ:ÌýESPN/ESPN2

Last time:ÌýOregon beat the UA 85-58 last year in Eugene. 

°Â³ó±ð²Ô:ÌýMarch 1, 8 p.m.

°Â³ó±ð°ù±ð:ÌýMcKale Center

TV: Fox Sports 1 

Last time:ÌýThe Wildcats took down Stanford 74-67 when the Cardinal came to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ last season. 

When: March 3, time TBA

Where: McKale Center

TV: Pac-12 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

Last time: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ beat the Golden Bears 62-57 at McKale Center last season.